Newbie to Pyramix: project recording at multiple sample rates

[hughmcevoy]

Hi folks. I'm brand new to Pyramix and still learning my way around: I'm considering switching from another DAW, partly to be able to better handle projects that require recording at different sample rates. Up until now, I've been using an external realtime sample rate converter (src) which is nearing retirement age. I'm trying to do without one in the future, if I can.

Here's my use case: I intend to record mics at 96 or maybe 88.2, but have two lovely pieces of external gear, both hard clocked to different sample rates (one is locked to 44.1,the other to 48). Both of these pieces of external kit have analogue outs, but I much prefer the sound of the digital outs of at least the unit at 44.1: the built-in DAC of that unit thins the sound, to my ears.

Seeing as Pyramix is renowned for its realtime and offline src, my thinking was to record as follows, changing Pyramix's sample rate as needed e.g.:
- Create a project at, say, 32/96 and record the mics etc
- Change project sample rate to 44.1 and capture sounds from the module at 44.1, while listening to the rest of the recording using the realtime src.
- Change to 48 and do the same for the other outboard
- Change back to 96 and now use Pyramix's high-quality offline src for all the non-96 audio files, bringing them all up to 96 for mixing etc.

And so here are the questions: am I thinking about this right? Are there better ways? I've done a couple of experiments on the above in Pyramix Elements, but at small scale. Does this method scale to say 30-50 track projects, without causing instability, crashes etc?

Thanks in advance for your opinions!

[fl]

I've never done a session where there were more than two sample rates, but I would think that expecting real time SRC - especially in the "Ultra High Quality" setting to function successfully while mixing a 30 to 50 track recording will tax most CPUs, especially if you wish to do cross-fade editing and/or use plug-in processing at the same time. The manual specifies that use of the "Ultra High Quality" real time SRC is only feasible for Projects containing a few tracks (the number of which is determined by the power of your computer's CPU). Any more tracks, and you're faced with switching to the, um, regular real time SRC, which may be acceptable to your ear for monitoring during your "module" recording, but might not be for the finished project.

A better quality option for you might be to restrict the use of real time SRC to when you are recording using your "modules". Once you're finished recording, and have switched back to the main Project's SR, go to the Media Manager's "Convert" menu, select the "Quick Convert" option, (covered in the Manual on Page 69 or thereabouts) and create a new SRC converted copy of each acceptable/successful take from those you just made. This shouldn't take more than a few seconds each. Once you've got everything you need all at the same SR, you can stack up the tracks, edit, and pile on the plug-ins to the limit of your computer's capability.

[hughmcevoy]

Thank you, Frank.

That makes sense. Then I'll aim to use 'regular' realtime SRC just for tracking (doesn't have to be perfect quality to play along to) then convert everything using the offline function before heavy-duty editing, plugins etc begins.

Cheers!